ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

[Ascension]

Today dropped by one of the local Pawn Shops to talk to the owner about a job. While I was there was looking around at the guitars and suddenly saw a diamond in the rough! 1992 very early Washburn USA MG 104 in Purple Quilt. They had absolutely no idea what it really was so walked out with it for what would have been a decent deal on a low end Sguire LOL. This is why boys and girls those guys need to hire ME!!
Haven't done much except hit it with some pledge to knock the worst of the grime off + get the action at least in the ballpark so it was playable. Strings are crusty it's not even close to being set up but already is a MONSTER!! Tones for days and for some reason is much fatter and fuller sounding already than my other 92 MG 94 is so stoked on this beast!! Quick cell phone pix will get better in a day or 2 when I get it cleaned up and really set up.

PS very very early guitar has the import neck plate with a SN but also the true SN stamped into the back of the headstock ( somewhat crudely BTW) which is 9207008. 92 is the year 07 is the series and 008 is the actual SN so it's the 8th production MG 104 built in the 1st year of production.
Here is it's brother also a pawn shop rescue and a later in the year 92. This one is a MG 94 with a maple neck and ash body. Has the Washburn USA chrome neck plate with no SN on the plate and SN on this one was 094. Both have the same factory pickups all Duncan's , Custom Custom, Custom single and a 59 neck with a 5 way.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Beauty

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Nice find! Washburn is not my favorite brand, but they have definitely made some nice ones!

 

[The JEM Ghost]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Congratulations with your new guitar Ascension! That is a very nice looking guitar you got for yourself! Truly a serious bargain you got there!! :fing2:
I had a Washburn Mercury in the 90's, but sold it unfortunately though, I actually wish I didn't, those are really good guitars in my opinion. I wish I would stumble across such a great deal on one!!
Have fun playing it!! :headbang:

 

[Ascension]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Was a mess and absolutely unplayable when I bought it. Neck had a pretty good bow trem was all jacked up as who ever had it had bottomed out the claw screws and had the back of the plate all up in the air + it was just super nasty.
Truss rod was completely loose but once I pulled it up only took about half a turn from there and the neck adjusted out well + has absolutely NO visible fret wear on these big jumbos! Re set the trem and it is now running flat + have been beatin on it pretty hard and is rock solid. Cleaned out the switches and pots and everything is as it should be now. Still has the stock Duncans JB bridge the Custom single that became the SSL-5 middle and a 59 neck. For some reason this particular guitar has a really fat sweet tone and may well be the best sounding of the 4 MG's I own with JB's in the bridge.
This is one of the Grover Jackson Chicago Custom shop handbuilds and from every thing I can see was actually one of the very first ones built in that Chicago facility.
Clear coat has turned a little milky so need to see how much will buff out but it's a great player so happy with this one even if it doesn't come out.
Best guitar score I have had in years as these are flat going nuts in $ right now!!
Those guys at that Pawn shop had absolutely no idea what they had and this one should be a keeper!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Congrats again Bro!!! I had 2 104s, a purple quilt top and a blue quilt top.. I loved them both and hate having have sold them... Awesome axes!!

 

[Ascension]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Congrats again Bro!!! I had 2 104s, a purple quilt top and a blue quilt top.. I loved them both and hate having have sold them... Awesome axes!!

Remember that you did. Was thinking about that and wondered if your Maple neck Purple 104 had a slightly thicker neck profile than the Rosewood board Blue one did?
On my 2 the Black 94 with the solid maple neck has a profile similar to a PRS Wide thin while the 2 104's I have owned with Rosewood boards were slimmer.
Saw the same thing with the gen II guitars where my prototype 122 with the solid maple neck is noticeably thicker than the rest of my 2 nd gen 22 fret MG's are.
PS figured out why the Black 94 was weaker and thinner than my other MG's as those came with a Custom Custom in the bridge not a JB as did the Rosewood board MG but for some reason the CC is a lot fatter sounding in that guitar!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: ngd 1992 Washburn USA MG104

Hmmm... Good question. I dont recall there being much if any diff.. so badly wish I still had them and could compare now... :sad: